Use BUGS to Beat High Blood Pressure?!?

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

Valentine’s Day is all about the heart.

But it’s also about candies, cookies and other confections…

And unfortunately, these sugary treats can break your heart — literally.

You see, sweets like these can lead to high blood pressure, which can put you on the fast track for a heart attack or stroke.

But research has just found a dead-simple way to help get your blood pressure back under control. And it involves some simple foods you can easily incorporate into tonight’s Valentine’s Day dinner.

The secret to lower blood pressure starts with the bacteria or “bugs” in your gut.

The healthier your gut bacteria, the better your blood pressure numbers – simple as that.

For a recent study, scientists took a group of rats and gave them antibiotics to kill off the healthy bacteria in their guts (which they do, by the way).

They then transported some of that gut bacteria (or what was left of it) into a group of healthy mice.

And guess what happened? The normal, healthy mice ended up with high blood pressure.

Just being exposed to unhealthy, out-of-balance gut bacteria was enough to affect their blood pressure and put their hearts at risk.

And the same goes for you, too. Because this isn’t the first time science has seen an important link between gut health and blood pressure.

A recent meta-analysis of nine randomized clinical trials shows that folks who eat probiotic (good gut bugs) saw a remarkable reduction in blood pressure.

Luckily, it’s easy to add probiotics to your diet — just eat fermented foods like yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha.

If these pungent foods aren’t for you, no problem.

You can get probiotic supplements at your local pharmacy. Be sure to pick up one with multiple strains of bacteria if you really want to boost your heart health for Valentine’s Day and every day after.

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.


Sources

[1] Unhealthy gut microbes a cause of hypertension, researchers find

[2] Effect of probiotics on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.

[3] Excessive fructose intake induces the features of metabolic syndrome in healthy adult men: role of uric acid in the hypertensive response.

Natalie Moore

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

View More Free Articles

Is Your Diet ACTUALLY Healthy? Here’s How to Tell

I’ve probably uttered the phrase “healthy diet” when talking to patients, family, and friends more times than I’ve had cups of coffee—and that’s saying something! But I’ll admit it’s not always entirely clear what a healthy diet looks like. What does healthy eating really mean? Let’s take a look… Good news—healthy eating doesn’t mean you...

Read This

7 Natural Ways to Tackle Pain Without Pills

On Tuesday, we explored a promising new frontier in pain relief: terpenes, natural compounds found in cannabis (and other plants) that may ease pain without the risks of opioids. That research is still developing. But what if you’re looking for help right now? Good news: You don’t have to wait for a pharmaceutical breakthrough to...

Read This

Mailbag: Pinched to Pain Free with Natural Sciatica Solutions

“I have been suffering from sciatic pain in my hip and groin. I try to do exercises to stretch it. But ever since I slipped on the ice and fell on my left hip it seems to be getting worse. Is there any help for this?” -Painfully Pinched Dear Pinched, I understand how frustrating sciatic...

Read This

New Cannabis Discovery Could Ease Pain—Without the High

A few years ago, everywhere you turned, someone was talking about CBD. The cannabis extract had exploded in popularity for everything from anxiety to inflammation to joint pain. And while the CBD conversation continues, another cannabis compound is quietly making headlines. One that could—believe it or not—provide relief from all kinds of pain. Without the...

Read This

"Sinful Trio" SLASHES Metabolic Syndrome Risk

Are you tired of hearing your doctor’s endless “don’t eat this, don’t drink that” lectures? Well, this Easter Sunday, I’ve got news that might just have you hopping happily to your pantry. Turns out, some of life’s tastiest pleasures could help protect you from one of today’s most common health threats—metabolic syndrome. Let’s dig into...

Read This

Microplastics’ Hidden Link to Chronic Disease EXPOSED

By now, you’ve heard about microplastics. These tiny fragments of plastic have invaded virtually every corner of our planet. We’re just beginning to understand the scope of the threat, but we know microplastics pose a serious risk to our health. If you’re like many folks, you’ve shrugged off those dangers, thinking there’s nothing you can...

Read This

Shakespeare’s “Remembrance” Herb Protects Memory

You probably have a jar of rosemary sitting in your spice rack. Perhaps you sprinkle it on potatoes or add it to roast chicken. But what if this humble herb could hold the key to fighting one of the most devastating diseases we can face as we age? It turns out a hidden compound inside...

Read This

Is Your Gut “Good”? How to Check

I always get asked, “How do I know if my digestion is working right?” Well, the answer is pretty simple, but it’s also a little gross. A simple test you can do at home reveals whether your digestion is normal or not. Your digestive system processes everything you eat—extracting nutrients, and eliminating waste. The time...

Read This

Hidden Sugar Trap Fuels Lung Cancer

We’ve long known that smoking is the main villain behind lung cancer. But what if your dinner plate has quietly joined forces with the enemy? A new study from the University of Florida reveals that the typical Western diet could be laying the groundwork for aggressive lung cancer growth by feeding tumors with stored sugar....

Read This

Mailbag: Can A Diabetic Enjoy Desserts? The Surprising Answer

“If you have diabetes, may you eat a very few sweets in a week?” —Sweet Tooth Hi Sweet Tooth, Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where your body either resists the effects of insulin (a hormone that regulates sugar in your blood) or doesn’t produce enough of it to maintain normal blood sugar levels....

Read This